IT STARTS WITH A PROMISE PARENT INVOLVEMENT : MOVING FROM PHILOSOPHY TO PRACTICE

A Snapshot of our Demographics Student body – 22% White, 15% African American, 62% Hispanic F/R lunch 85% and climbing 10% Migrant students 16% ELL

The Birth of a Vision Understanding the Challenge & Indicator Six The Role of Leaders Debbie, at TATs Monica, at AMM

The Beginning Summer of no inclusion PreK classrooms in the District. 1 small PreK inclusion project with one RCMA site – had greater need. PreK SWD in the District had almost no time with non-disabled peers. Many parents unhappy

A Journey Began with Data Looked for Help! - (Resources are Great!) TATs – FND – FDLRS – Early Steps, other districts – any ideas.

Assemble a Great Team Hire a PreK Specialist with a great work ethic! – began in March, 2014 Hire the very best teachers and give them resources. (4 inclusion units) Spread the word about the Inclusion Program (Waiting list for gen ed!!)

Send them to Boot Camp! No one had every been from Hendry County! It was a great struggle to find a parent that could attend but we did! It was a wonderful experience and great start to our partnership with FND! Began our IEP Binders and Parent Trainings

Use Your Secret Weapons

Make Parents Partners Hold IEP’s at more flexible times and settings Conduct parent education meetings with our partners at schools and in collaboration with RCMA Don’t give up! Make Home visits! Give Parents tools and information!

What are we using to Teach and Measure? The Letter People Teachtown – (For Everyone!) Brigance – Screens III Integrated Therapy

Where We Started Brigance Results - Hendry September, 2014 – Inclusion PREK

How are we Doing? Brigance Results – Hendry January, Inclusion PreK

Focus on the Future Asking for an inclusion itinerant teacher to help serve the SWD in the community PreK programs – number has grown!! Expand Parent trainings in the community to gen ed parents and include other partners such as SEDNET.

Focus on the Future Schedule a Parent Fair for Resources with our interagency partners Improve our Parent Survey Numbers! Improve our process for community screenings and make the transition to kindergarten smoother.

Trainings Conducted Support and Resources in the area (twice) IEP Academy Effective Parent Teacher Conferences Helping with Homework Bullying Prevention Connecting across all Differences CPI – for parents (verbal)

Promises to Parents We will meet you where you are. We will be present and considerate of your perspective. We will consider you as a partner and remember that it takes all of us, working together, for a child to experience school success. We will explain all of your choices so you may develop an understanding about educational decisions and your child and we will be respectful of your decisions. We will communicate with you about your child’s progress regularly and in a positive manner in the language you are most comfortable with.

Promises to Parents We will be available when you need us. We will help you if you ask or we will assist you in finding a resource. We will remind ourselves that if you are angry it still means you care and want what’s best for your child. We will make the children we serve the most important focus of every decision we make. We will continue to improve what we do every day.